Feeling hopeless and directionless in career
Posted by ActualMolasses1892@reddit | learnprogramming | View on Reddit | 13 comments
I am 23(F), I am about to graduate next moth from BTech IT. I feel like I have wasted four years of my life doing engineering and its not like there is something else i wanted to pursue. Everyone around me said there's lot of money in Tech so i got into it. I enjoyed learning cse subjects and languages in the beginning but i used to slack off regularly and would have to start again from the beginning and now four years later i have basic understanding of mern stack which i really hate but i did a minor project in college using mern stack which i have i added in my resume. To change my routine i started learning python from CS50 but i study very slowly and i am only on week4.
I feel so hopeless and worthless because as of now i feel like i dont know anything which i have put on my resume or I dont think anyone would hire me because i would not hire myself tbh.
I dont know what to study further and how to build projects and which projects to build and even after all of that will anyone even hire me
For my backup, I got selected as system engineer in Infosys but it is really my worst case scenario because I have not heard good things about that company. I would have to got to the Mysore campus for training and then after 6 months of training god knows where they'll locate me. The CTC is 3.6lpa only.
If anyone could guide me on what to study after completing that cs50 course for python and eventually crack a decent paying job in 1-2 months
dwoodro@reddit
Tbh the fact that you are only 23 and think your entire life should be fully figured out is the main aspect of why this feels like this.
People hit stages of life where things they thought they wanted no longer appeal to them. Often happens at key age ranges, 20’s, 30’s or 50’s.
There are many factors. For instance, choosing a path “because there’s money in it”. Some welders earn more income than some coders.
You should also enjoy what you do. I’ve been coding since 1985. With both inside and outside of the industry. Worked for good companies and bad ones.
First thing to realize is that “no job is perfect or permanent”, unless you decide it is. Get the experience under your belt before deciding on a company, move on if you’re not happy there.
Building projects is easier than you might think: here what I would do:
Find stuff you like that requires coding: then replicate those things yourself.
Game dev always come to mind simple because people always try to write clones of things like Minecraft. Don’t start out that ambitious.
But consider classic project builds: calculator, typing tutorial game, minesweeper clone, temple run clones, etc. or if you’re not into gaming, write a small app for collecting stamps, or recipes, or some other inventory system.
Most major projects are a collection of smaller parts. Once you see all the parts, the project becomes far less daunting.
Wish you the best going forward.
ActualMolasses1892@reddit (OP)
thankyou, i know life is larger than this but sometime it feels like if i dont get a job right away this is it for me
But I will be consistent from now on and try to build projects and connections going forward
dwoodro@reddit
One thing I think many people forget is “failure” is not meant to be an “identity”.
We all fail at things. We all start at zero skill points in life. Failure isn’t meant to be a bad thing, it’s meant to teach us “how not to do something “. Which is actually as important as “how to do something “.
Do t be so critical of you so t get stuff on the first try. Lightbulbs took hundreds if not thousands of attempts before getting them right.
bootyhole_licker69@reddit
cs50 at week 4 is actually fine, everyone learns slow at first. finish it, build 2 small python projects and 2 mern ones, even tiny clones. apply everywhere. market is horrible right now
ActualMolasses1892@reddit (OP)
thanks, I have decided I'll stick to learning python and build 2 projects
Small-Host-3263@reddit
Why are people using mongodb l haven't used or met any founder using mongoose in production
Basic-Yoghurt-1342@reddit
I have to hand it to you, that has to be the most absolutely unique handle I have ever seen. I don’t know whether to laugh or blush.
😳
LostVikingSpiderWire@reddit
You are right, you don't know anything, so stick with it few years, then switch, there will come a time where it matters
oleg_medvedev@reddit
I also do believe that these times will come again.
rustyseapants@reddit
What does this have to do with learning to program?
You really need to talk with a actual person.
Striking_Weird_8540@reddit
ya this feels bad but honestly it’s very normal… you didn’t waste 4 years, you just haven’t gone deep in one thing yet… most grads are exactly here… basic knowledge, low confidence, slow progress… that’s not failure, that’s just early stage
don’t try to fix everything… just pick one lane (like python) and build 2–3 small real projects end to end… even simple ones… that matters more than tutorials… infosys is not the end either, it can just be a starting point… your career is long, this phase is small… just stay consistent for few months and things will start making sense
userscrol@reddit
well well
Suspicious-Cow-9459@reddit
Girl same thing happened with me in final year - that imposter syndrome hits hard but you actually know more than you think, just the interview anxiety makes everything feel blank in your head